Western art museum opens on River Walk

By Elda Silva :
October 26, 2013
: Updated: October 28, 2013 5:49am

Caterina Parafina, 12, a member of the Las Espuelas Escaramuza Team tours the museum after performing during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Caterina Parafina, 12, and Anais Olivia Gonzalez, 13, both members of the Las Espuelas Escaramuza Team, wait for the ribbon cutting during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Edmundo Rios III, 17, performs with the San Antonio Charro Association during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Franco and his son, Carlos Franco, Jr., 3, wait with Edmundo Rios III, 17, Diego Rivera, 8, after performing with the San Antonio Charro Association during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Edmundo Rios III, 17, and Diego Rivera, 8, rest inside the Briscoe Western Art Museum after performing with the San Antonio Charro Association during the grand opening celebration for the museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Edmundo Rios III, 17, watches the opening remarks at the during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Rios performed with the San Antonio Charro Association during the celebration.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Diego Rivera, 8, entertains himself during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Franco and his son, Carlos Franco, Jr., 3, entertain each other next to John Coleman's Visions of Change after performing during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Safety officer Julian Sanchez guards "A Dandy on the Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, 1890," a painting by Frederic Remington, during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Patrons must view the painting from behind the white lines on the ground in front of the painting.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Bill "Wild Bill" Petre, 87, left, and Jack "Cowboy Jack" Williams, 84, both residents of Air Force Retirement Village I, look at a Yaqui Deer Dancer during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Petre is an Army veteran who served in World War II and Korea and Williams is an Air Force Veteran who served in Vietnam and Korea.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Antoinette Jackson, of San Antonio, views John Coleman's Visions of Change during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Jackson is a docent emeritus of the San Antonio Museum of Art and has visited art museums all over the world.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Franco and his son, Carlos Franco, Jr., 3, stand next to John Coleman's Visions of Change at the Briscoe Western Art Museum after performing during the grand opening celebration for the museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Teresa Lesczynski and her son, Ian Lesczynski, 9, view Santa Anna's sword during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Connie Maldonado tours the museum after performing with Ballet Folklorico Festival during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Tracy Wolff, from left, embraces Debbie Montford, and Janey Briscoe Marmion, the daughter of Dolph Briscoe, after the ribbon cutting during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Connie Maldonado arrives to perform with Ballet Folklorico Festival during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Bryar Crane, 5, of Lavernia, views the Battle of the Alamo display during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Harold Frank, of Washington, DC, views the Battle of the Alamo display during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Rick Swinghamer, of Boerne, reads about Santa Anna's Sword on display during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Bill "Wild Bill" Petre, 87, left, and Jack "Cowboy Jack" Williams, 84, both residents of Air Force Retirement Village I, watch Mariachi Fiesta de San Antonio perform during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Petre is an Army veteran who served in World War II and Korea and Williams is an Air Force Veteran who served in Vietnam and Korea.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Angel Aaron Rodriguez views John Coleman's Visions of Change during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Jack Williams, center, photographs John Coleman's Visions of Change during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Caterina Parafina, 12, a member of the Las Espuelas Escaramuza Team tours the museum after performing during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Kristin Ware / Image courtesy of the Briscoe Western Art Museum

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Photo By Kristin Ware / Image courtesy of the Briscoe Western Art Museum

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Photo By Kristin Ware / Image courtesy of the Briscoe Western Art Museum

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Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Mike Fisher / San Antonio Express-News photo illustration

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Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Steve Bennett / San Antonio Express-News

A modern steel bridge connects the Briscoe museum and the Guenther pavilion on the second level.

Photo By Steve Bennett / San Antonio Express-News

Visitors can enter the museum from the River Walk through this pathway, which has the old library building housing the Briscoe on the left and the new Guenther pavilion on the right.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Steve Bennett / San Antonio Express-News

Native Texas Lueders limestone and copper sheeting were two of the materials used on the Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The sculpture "Checkmate" by sculptor Herb Mignery sits outside the Briscoe Western Art Museum on the corner of Presa and Markets streets at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013.

Photo By Steve Bennett / San Antonio Express-News

Clawed lighting towers stand guard on either side of the main entrance off Market Street.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The donor wall at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The sculpture "Checkmate" by sculptor Herb Mignery sits outside the Briscoe Western Art Museum on the corner of Presa and Markets streets at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The entrance at Market Street to the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013.

Photo By Steve Bennett / San Antonio Express-News

The grand Art Deco facade of the old main library, restored as the Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

Exterior of the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory..

Photo By Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

The donor wall at the Briscoe Western Art Museum on Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Museum of Western Art

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Kristin Ware / Briscoe Western Art Museum

Detail of exhibit at Briscoe Western Art Museum.

Photo By Steve Bennett / San Antonio Express-News

A clerestory ceiling on the third floor of the Jack Guenther Pavilion lets in lots of natural light.

Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Photo By Helen L. Montoya / San Antonio Express-News

The Briscoe Western Art Museum features two buildings connected literally and metaphorically by bridges. The old existing Art Deco former Hertzberg Circus Museum (old main library before that), with its Indiana limestone skin, has been historically restored inside with galleries that will hold more than 700 artworks. It's connected to the modern Guenther Pavilion, designed by Lake / Flato, which has a limestone and copper exterior and a hipped roof with clerestory.

Caterina Parafina, 12, a member of the Las Espuelas Escaramuza Team, tours the Briscoe Western Art Museum after performing Saturday during the museum's grand opening celebration in downtown San Antonio.

Teresa Lesczynski and her son, Ian Lesczynski, 9, view Santa Anna's sword Saturday at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, where visitors can see the long and varied history of Texas' settlement.

Tracy Wolff (from left) embraces Debbie Montford and Janey Briscoe Marmion, the daughter of Dolph Briscoe, Saturday during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Caterina Parafina, 12, and Anais Olivia Gonzalez, 13, both members of the Las Espuelas Escaramuza Team, wait for the ribbon cutting during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Edmundo Rios III, 17, performs with the San Antonio Charro Association during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Franco and his son, Carlos Franco, Jr., 3, wait with Edmundo Rios III, 17, Diego Rivera, 8, after performing with the San Antonio Charro Association during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Edmundo Rios III, 17, and Diego Rivera, 8, rest inside the Briscoe Western Art Museum after performing with the San Antonio Charro Association during the grand opening celebration for the museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Edmundo Rios III, 17, watches the opening remarks at the during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Rios performed with the San Antonio Charro Association during the celebration.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Diego Rivera, 8, entertains himself during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Franco and his son, Carlos Franco, Jr., 3, entertain each other next to John Coleman's Visions of Change after performing during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Safety officer Julian Sanchez guards "A Dandy on the Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, 1890," a painting by Frederic Remington, during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Patrons must view the painting from behind the white lines on the ground in front of the painting.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Bill "Wild Bill" Petre, 87, left, and Jack "Cowboy Jack" Williams, 84, both residents of Air Force Retirement Village I, look at a Yaqui Deer Dancer during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Petre is an Army veteran who served in World War II and Korea and Williams is an Air Force Veteran who served in Vietnam and Korea.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Antoinette Jackson, of San Antonio, views John Coleman's Visions of Change during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. Jackson is a docent emeritus of the San Antonio Museum of Art and has visited art museums all over the world.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Franco and his son, Carlos Franco, Jr., 3, stand next to John Coleman's Visions of Change at the Briscoe Western Art Museum after performing during the grand opening celebration for the museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Connie Maldonado tours the museum after performing with Ballet Folklorico Festival during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Connie Maldonado arrives to perform with Ballet Folklorico Festival during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Bryar Crane, 5, of Lavernia, views the Battle of the Alamo display during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Harold Frank, of Washington, DC, views the Battle of the Alamo display during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Rick Swinghamer, of Boerne, reads about Santa Anna's Sword on display during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Angel Aaron Rodriguez views John Coleman's Visions of Change during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Jack Williams, center, photographs John Coleman's Visions of Change during the grand opening celebration for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

“I've got to learn to catch me some meat,” she joked before trading her guitar for a length of rope.

A member of Mariachi Fiesta de San Antonio, Garcia was on hand Saturday morning to perform at the opening of the museum. The free two-day celebration continues 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, with performances, artist demonstrations and hands-on activities for children.

Located downtown on the River Walk in the historic building that previously housed the Hertzberg Circus Museum, the Briscoe is the city's first dedicated Western art museum. The inaugural exhibits feature about 700 objects, including a full-size reproduction of a Wells Fargo stagecoach and walls of saddles and spurs. In addition to preserving cowboy culture, the museum also explores American Indian, Spanish and Mexican contributions to the area.

As the sound of American Indian drumming and singing floated above the street noise, founding board member Jack Guenther Sr. cut the ribbon stretched across the museum's street entrance to let the waiting crowd enter. A ribbon cutting ceremony also was held at the museum's River Walk entrance.

Artist Alejandro Sifuentes, a metalsmith who owns a gallery in La Villita, was among the first inside.

“It's a big accomplishment for the city,” Sifuentes said. “Artists that represent this kind of art will have a place now to come; the city will have a place now to come see this kind of work.”

Sifuentes, who has Native American and indigenous Mexican roots, grew emotional talking about the museum as a bridge between cultures.

“Part of it is, we're sort of a people who don't have a place, so this is a meeting ground,” he said.

About 10 years in the works, the three-story museum initially was slated to open in 2009. It was delayed as the original design changed and the price tag grew from $18 million in 2006 to the final $32 million. More than $7 million in taxpayer funds has gone into the project, including $6.25 million from the county and about $1 million from the city. The rest of the funding has come from the private sector.

Former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, who died in 2010, contributed $4 million to the project. The museum is named for him and his wife, Janey.

“The public-private partnership was such a successful model for this project,” said museum board Chairwoman Debbie Montford. “Private donors came together with both the city and the country to restore a building with great bones, and I think it's energized this entire piece of the river. We're so happy. I mean, we're looking at each other and saying, 'I can't believe it's finally here.'”

On the third floor, South Texas cattle rancher Enrique E. Guerra surveyed the Focus Gallery, where several objects he loaned to the museum from his collection of Spanish and Mexican colonial art and artifacts are on display.

“It's well done,” Guerra said. “I'm really impressed, not only with this, with all the museum exhibits. I think it's highly educational and certainly does what I wanted to have done, which is to educate the public that Texas history started with the Native Americans, and then from there to the Spanish, to the Mexicans, to the Texicans, to the Texans, the confederacy, and then, of course, American. I think it's very important that the young people should know the complete history of our great state.”

Guerra's son, Jose “Che” Guerra, recognized his father's ranch in a 1975 painting by Melvin C. Warren that's on display in the museum.

“I remember Melvin Warren going over there and painting that,” said the younger Guerra, who sits on the museum's board. “You can see the Mexican mesquite pens and the vaqueros.”

Briscoe Executive Director Steven M. Karr said he was pleased with Saturday's turnout, but he was really looking forward to the museum's first day of regular operation.

“It's funny for a museum professional, this is not the fun part,” he said. “The fun part is the first day you open for regular hours. Tuesday at 10 a.m. — that's when I'm excited about.”